*the Elf lays his quiver of arrows and his bow down upon the ground. He then takes from his stachel a smallish, many paged book–his journal. A small ink bottle and quill follow that, the latter in need of replacement sometime soon. He begins to write...*

A date has finally been set, my leather-bound friend. A date for what, might you ask? Why, our wedding, of course! Ara's and ine, that is...as good a discreet as you are, friend, I doubt 'twould be looked upon with much understanding if I took a book over my lovely Elfess...Friday 'twill be the day, and I can but hardly wait and prepare...still some things to be taken care of, you know...ah, but to be joined to my Ara at long last... 'tis nay a dream, either. At least, I don't believe so.

Allow me to check, if you will, friend. *the Elf pinches himself, perhaps overly hard. "Ow..." he mutters, and takes up the quill again* Nay, 'tis not a dream, I assure you.

Though no matter could possibly be larger than that which I have already set down within you, I should think you'd like to hear of other things, and so you shall.

The other night, Sir Benjamin allowed me to play his mandolin. A jig, 'twas I played. 'Rince Philib a'Cheoil' Ah, me. The mandolin is beautiful, no doubt, but for a fiddle once again...harumph. 'Twill wait.

I have just finished, as I began to write in you, practicing with bow and arrow. I hit the knot at which I aimed a number of times...a few other times, however...*he eyes an arrow, snapped in twain, with disdain..he then astsan accusing eye at the one that flew in the wrong direction. He sighs lightly...* Ah well. So ends my writing for the day, for I must tell you, I've nought else you would wish to hear..

--Journal Entry, 14 November, Sylverleaf

"Shakes her head and sighs as she begins to write"

Thanksgiving..Day of giving Thanks and Yule Tide coming up soon. I dont want to think about celebrating and acting cheerful. I cant do it. Gods how things have changed since last near. I guess I have two choices. Either let Alkane go to the manor for Thanksgiving and Yule Tide or he and I will just have a quiet dinner at home. He isnt used to being around a lot of loud obnoxious people so I think it would be best to keep him with me. Maybe dinner then I can go to the Boutique and work the rest of the day.

Its funny, but i never thought Id ever, ever hate to see a holiday approaching. The closer they get, the more depressed I become. They just remind me of how alone I am.

I had family on the mainland, I have nothing here. Ah yes Im beautiful and rich "smirks"..What else do I need to be happy? Not a damn thing according to most people. But then again they are fools.

I cooked dinner last year, I really dont feel like doing that this year. Even though, Alterio swore I was trying to poison him with mashed potatoes, everyone else ate them and no one died.

Cook can just make us a small meal and she can go home to her family. "sighs and shoves the journal away"

--Journal Entry, 14 November, Vixen Blade

Dearest Journal,

I am writing you from the halls of my very own house... I have to admit though I am sitting on the floor as my furniture as not yet arrived, I shall have to check into that if it doesn't arrive tommorrow. I have rented out my extra room to Attrei as he is in need of a place to live, he doesn't feel very comfortable living at Mag's house although I'm glad to say the situation seems to be cleared up and that they are all friends now. * sighes and then smiles* Attrei and I have become good friends,to say the least, last evening upon returning to the house, he gave me a quick kiss before I went to bed, I know not what to think of it, I don't wish to count my chickens before they are hatched, but I do think that he is at least slightly interested in me, and I can not say that I don't return the interest. *sighs again* And now that I have poured my heart out all over the place, I will go to the dome and see who is about, and perhaps get a little to drink

* smiles and closes up the journal, looking around for a place to set it and seeing nothing to hide it in, she wraps it in an old cloak and sets it with the rest of her belongings as she heads out into the night*

--Journal Entry, 14 November, Rosalyn Lovine

"growls and tosses the paper aside"

Gawds I cant believe he hit me with that stupid bratstick. I wasnt doing anything either. And he said he would never use that thing. Bah so much for that. He just -thinks- he is gonna beat me every time I dont react the way he thinks I should. "smirks as she tries to think of an equalizer to the bratstick" Idiot Stick? BigFoot Club hmmm? Ah well, I will think of something. Or maybe just shrinkage potions to shrink their -things- to 2 inches eh? They would be to busy whinning to use the bratstick..

Will have to think of something.

"leaves the journal open to dry while she gets dressed"

--Journal Entry, 15 November, Vixen Blade

::::sits in her chaise lounger, while Lia talks to her, writing a bit in her Journal, which has been neglected the last couple of days:::

Well, we have all officially made it through Typhoon season. Thank Bahyrah. Ive been doing some thinking as of late, about opening my own shoppe. Maybe I will speak with Uncle Alterio about it, and see what he thinks. I think it would be good for me. I need something else to keep me occupied. Besides, Ive always loved working with my hands, and I think this will be very good for me.

:::smiles as she watches Lia run around the suite, shaking her head just a little as Lia gives in and bounces on the queen sized bed:::

Ahh, how I love spending the days with her. She has so much energy, so much vitality to her. And she is beautiful as ever. We have become so close, lately, that she is able to know what Im feeling. That, in itself, is scary. There are things I dont want her to feel, that I do. I dont want her to feel the nightmares. I dont want her to feel the anger when I am angry. Maybe she wont pick up on those things. I can hope.

Well, enough of this, its playtime. *Grins*

~Lyrias~

:::she places the journal out of the way, and rises, moving to go and tackle Lia onto the bed and tickle her unmercifully::::

--Journal Entry, 15 November, Lyrias

I woudln't call last night good. I actually brat-sticked Vixen, I couldn't believe I did it. I got her good, too, but I do feel bad. I think I might give the blasted thing back to Alterio. He says I need it, but I'm not the type of guy who spanks their woman with a bamboo stick for being bad. Not my style. I didn't feel right doing it. Luckily, before she had much of a chance to react, Sharken came in. Not that that is lucky. We at the Dome vanquished it quickly, but Xanthia and Khalidan got seriously hurt, but were healed. Ah well. Who knows what tonight may bring?

This place is crazy.

--Journal Entry, 15 November, Valyndor Lyndrae

::sits at her small table and takes up a quill and opens the book and begins to write::

I do not know what has come over me of late .. I seem to do so many things wrong .... The other night I lost my temper and spoke out rudely to Attrei and shoved his drink in his hand ... and then like a fool thought to take my life so Lady Mags would not use me to hurt or hurl my name in the face of my master and the Lady jumped in and pulled me out...

She was most angry as was my master and now ... I wear a leash to remind me to always keep my emotions in check and that I am always under the control of my master... and I now must wear this hobble chain..to keep me from running and I am not allowed near the water till I learn to oh oh I have to learn to swim....

:: hangs her head down and crys softly ::

And and now i have made a very bad mistake I was sent to the Carazzi Manor to take a gift to lia and while I was there I saw the dragon slave he was out on the grounds and as i approached he attacked something near the bushes ... I ran dropping the package and tried to stop him and before I knew it he had nearly completly eaten the Carazzi gardner....

I tried to tell him he must let his master know and he seemed so worried that Sir Carazzi would punish him I felt so bad for him I know he has been not the nicest of dragons but he is a slave as am I and I tried to help him keep it from our masters and we discarded all traces of the gardner....

I should have known better I should have known my master would find out and he did and now i am to stay in this room till he returns he was most angry.. My Master said he was going to the Manor to speak with Sir Carazzi and I was to speak with no one till he returned ...My Master has never harmed me he has always been a fair man and he tries to show me the error of my ways with his punishments :: but he seemed so angry:::

--Lays down her quil and closes the book carefully removing her gown she dresses for bed and lays down blowing out the small candle--

--Journal Entry, 15 November, Jasmin Rose

::Tired of the resting, and more angry than anything, he counts the hours until leaving the house, telling none whom occupy it where he's going or what he's doing. The smuggled-in scroll said to be there at ten this eve and that's where he'll be. He rises and looks out his balcony, seeing Dracored's front feet sticking out of the barn, and the chain that attaches Draco glints in the moonlight. A curse beneath his breath later, he moves to the desk and records a brief journal entry::

He ate my damned gardener, then tried to lie about it. And I damned near fell over when Jasmin tried to fib to protect him! Now I understand in a basal level the protecting our own mentality..but slaves are to have given their full submission. While that's unlikely for a dragon to do 100%, Jasmin should not have lied to me, or to Dan. Even with traces of blood on her hands, she tried to say nothing was wrong..and then it was an accident.

I really could've used Dracored tonight, accompanying me to the place the scroll said to be. I'm still battling this weakened heart, and it could've behooved my slave to have been at the ready, to protect me if need be. But no, he's chained in lockdown, in the barn, from last night until first light tomorrow. I do not wish to beat the dragon; hell, he ate the gardener. He could very well try and turn on me. But he needs to learn his place, so perhaps being chained like the animal he is, rather than given carte blanche for a couple of days will open his eyes.

::Notes the time:: Three more hours. I will be there. Since Dracored cannot, I'll ask Raoul (a guard). Paul's going as well, but I sense trouble ahead.

--Journal Entry, 16 November, Sir Knight Carazzi

:: takes up her quill again, opening her journal:: Dear Journal;

Well gee. Here's the latest: I almost died. A sharken attacked the Dome and it nearly killed me. I wasn't all that worried about myself tho'. More concerned with Thirlia and keeping her safe than anything. I would have died before I let that thing near her.

... and the Sandpaper is out. And, well it seems I am the subject of rumors, inacurate ones at that. Oh well. I should just let it pass, I suppose. I don't like what they wrote but there is nothing to be said. It did include some information about the offices. That's a good thing I suppose.

And one last thing. The Ship of Wishes is coming. It is to dock this eve and It is said that worthy wishes are granted. ... Failing the gain of anything for myself, I have thought of a wish. And I hope it is granted.

Anyway, more later I think.

--Journal Entry, 16 November, Xanthia